Smith v Parole Board

Smith v Parole Board

The recall of a determinate sentence prisoner on licence without an oral hearing does not violate Articles 5 or 6 ECHR or common law fairness where the primary facts are undisputed and the assessment is of risk, not guilt; the right to liberty was lost at sentencing and the procedure adopted was not actually unfair.

Parties
Applicant: Smith; Respondent: The Parole Board
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
31 July 2003
Procedural Posture
Judicial Review / Appeal From High Court to Court of Appeal
Outcome
Application dismissed
Legal Topics
Parole, Recall to Prison, Fair Hearing, Article 5 ECHR, Article 6 ECHR, Common Law Fairness

Case Brief

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Parties

Smith

Applicant

The Parole Board

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Judicial Review / Appeal From High Court to Court of Appeal

  1. 1 Whether the recall of a determinate sentence prisoner on licence without an oral hearing is fair under common law and Articles 5 and 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights

Ratio Decidendi

The recall of a determinate sentence prisoner on licence without an oral hearing does not violate Articles 5 or 6 ECHR or common law fairness where the primary facts are undisputed and the assessment is of risk, not guilt; the right to liberty was lost at sentencing and the procedure adopted was not actually unfair.

Court Disposition

Application dismissed

Orders

  • Application for judicial review dismissed
  • No oral hearing required before the Parole Board in this case